Posted By: qeiplWhat if there's a ventilated void between steel and straw?

That'd help though as Tony says it'd need to be drained as well. Would you put anything between the straw and the void? If so, how? Perhaps outside to in: steel, void ventilated to outside with vertical treated wooden battens, breathable membrane, straw, lime plaster?

There was a straw baled shipping container at San Diego zoo. The bales are on the outside and the inside of the container is kept cool (for animal food storage). I wonder what became of that as it too breaks the “vapour barrier on the warm side” rule.

I like the idea of a basic steel shell plus insulation. Fairly early on in my house design thinking I had in mind a shipping container house wrapped in straw bale with the whole thing in a greenhouse.

There are all sorts of advantages to putting the insulation on the outside. Obviously, you can ventilate it more easily. The internal walls, etc, in the house can be connected directly to the steel frame (without creating cold bridges). You get more space in your steel shell. You can replace the insulation without disrupting the inside of the house.

The disadvantage, of course, of insulation on the outside is that you then need to rain screen and rat proof it. Still, if you're going to have to do something a bit more complicated than just stuffing the straw bales up against the steel shell that's not that much more extra work.

Joiner's right, strawbale construction. Why do you need steel as well? dont waste your money, build with bales and render/plaster with lime both sides, easy to add to and very insulating. If you do need to alter it you wnt need a kango

I have already started down this route. My brief was a small affordable home which we could expand into over time as money came available. My solution was a canal barge well actually 3 barges. To start with a 30 foot barge compact and Bijou with permanent double bed and one single bed. Further temporary double bed and single if people came to visit. Living room, kitchen, toilet and shower with engine to provide cruising hot water and electric. Phase 2 would be a dumb barge again 30ft long so capable of using all narrow canal routes and would be dedicated bedroom accommodation with ensuite, phase one refurbished for larger kitchen and living accomodation. Phase 3 a 60ft barge dedicated to living accommodation phase one refurbished as kitchen diner. All 3 barges tied together as single unit restricted to broad locks only or 2x 30ft barges and 60ft dumb barge for use in narrow locks.
Unfortunately we have only achieved phase 1 but the process has been fun.

Only because you'd put wheels on it and last seen travelling up the A30!

My geography's rubbish, and I suspect this is the wrong side (!), but it may well get horizontal rain. No update on how it has fared. http://www.selfbuild-central.co.uk/first-ideas/examples/orkney-straw-bale/

Posted By: SteamyTea

Posted By: renewablejohnMy brief was a small affordable home which we could expand into over time as money came available

Currently working on a narrowboat design at moment. I too thought of adding extra hulls and towing one behind the other. Got laughed at when I mentioned it.

I was only copying the methods of the old working boats which had motorized with dumb barge behind on narrow canals and tied abreast on broad canals.

They were called 'butty' boats, John. Hence the Black Country term for a mate (someone close you could rely on): "Alright butty?"

Posted By: JoinerOnly because you'd put wheels on it and last seen travelling up the A30!

Only one way for things on trailers to travel up the A30, East.